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Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss says the creation of one air traffic management system for the whole country will be of particular benefit for airports that handle both military and civilian aircraft.
The federal government has named Thales as the successful supplier to commence work on the Onesky project, which aims to combine both the civil and military air traffic management systems into one program.
The $600 million project aims to improve safety and efficiency, as well as create one flight information region so an air traffic controller can monitor any part of the nation’s airspace from any terminal.
Parts of the system are expected to be operating by 2018, with the full rollout due to be completed in 2021.
Thales Australia and New Zealand chief executive Chris Jenkins described Onesky – which will be based on the company’s TopSky system that is currently used in 130 air traffic control centres around the world – as a “critical piece of national infrastructure”.
Jenkins acknowledged Thales’s key industrial partners Frequentis and Boeing Defence Australia, “whose military aviation expertise enabled a comprehensive offering ideally suited to Australia’s local conditions”.
“Thales and its team is committed to work closely with Airservices Australia and the Department of Defence to deliver the state-of-the-art in air traffic management systems that will bring long-term improvements to the already safe and efficient movement of the millions of passengers in Australia every year under the onesky program,” Jenkins said at the signing ceremony at the Avalon Airshow on Friday.
Currently, Airservices uses The Australian Advanced Air Traffic System (TAAATS) to manage civil airspace, while the military uses the Australian Defence Air Traffic System (ADATS). Both were about to reach the end of their useful lives.
The Department of Defence handled all aircraft movements at mixed use airports such as Williamtown in Newcastle and Darwin.
Truss said Onesky would ensure airspace that was controlled by the military would be much better integrated into the whole air traffic management system, making it easier for aircraft to navigate from one airspace to another.
“We are doing the best we can with the equipment we have and two separate systems,” Truss told reporters after the signing ceremony.
“But where you have two separate systems, well occasionally glitches will appear.”
“I am comfortable that what we are doing now is the best we can with the current equipment and the current administrative arrangements but I’ve got no doubt that the commitments that are being made today for the new system and the onesky arrangement will be a step forward for everyone.”
Airservices chief executive Margaret Staib said the forward services contract signed with Thales would allow detailed design and other work to begin.
“We will still have an acquisition contract and a support contract but because of the complexity of this endeavour we needed to be in a contractual arrangement so that for example we can bring forward the early voice work but also actually commission the detailed design work,” Staib said.
“So that’s the sort of things that will be covered by this advanced work standing arrangement.”
Australia will be the first country to have one air traffic management system for both civil and military aircraft.
BDT
says:In 1971 Hughes Airwest Flight 706 DC9 and a US Military F4 Phantom had a mid-air crash due to segregation of civilian and military operational processes. It is fantastic that we now have the technology and motivation to address this possibility with a joint solution. Fantastic work all involved.
Mr Pod
says:I hope this means boarding in Newcastle might accidentally be in a Hornet
Craigy
says:Question is what does onesky offer in terms of capability over the current systems?
Ian
says:I think this is a case of “commonsence prevailing”!
Raymond
says:Sounds good; I suppose national security angles have been covered from the military’s point of view? More specifically, would it be desirable for civilian ATC to be knowledgeable about classified military movements for example?
Manminder
says:If it is a step beyond common equipment functionality for civil and military then its worth economically.